Card controlled commutator



Dec. 11, 1956 v H. A. SPEH 2,773,545

CARD CONTROLLED COMMUTATOR 7 Filed June 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. BY Hskmn 8P5 c/iu fjfiymz A TTORNEY 1956 H. A. SPEH 2,773,645

CARD CONTROLLED COMMUTATOR Filed June 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

HHHHH r r r l r GATE GATE GATE 647E COL. COL.2 COL.3 COL.4

COUNTER COUNTER COUNTER COUNTER COLJ COL.2 COL.3 COL.4

INVENTOR. HEkMAN A. SPEH A T TORNEY .stack of cards and start it throughthe feed rolls.

United States Patent CARD CONTROLLED COMMUTATOR Herman A. Speh, EastWilliston, N. Y., assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application June 10, 1955, Serial No. 514,460

13 Claims. (Cl. 23561.11)

This invention relates to business machines adapted to utilize recordcards and particularly to commutators for manifesting the significantreading positions of record.

,cards in business machines.

Cards are read in business machines by being fed past column readingbrushes which are instrumental to generate data-representing signals asperforations are sensed at selected index points in the respective cardcolumns. The V vdata represented by these selectively locatedperforations card feed rollers that pulses are generated at the emittercontacts at a rate corresponding to that at which the card index pointsare fed past the reading brushes.

With an emitter of the conventional type it is necessary to feed eachcard to the reading brushes at a predetermined point in the basic timingcycle of the machine so that the time relationship of the emitter pulsesto the respective index points being fed past the reading brushes is thesame for each card. This is usually accomplished by actuating a pickerknife at predetermined intervals in the machine timing cycle to pick acard from a stationary After the cards have been started at the propertime, they may be analyzed at any subsequent station in the machinewithout being stopped and restarted, provided that the card feed is keptin synchronism with the basic timing cycle of the machine. If, however,the desired state of synchronism is not maintained, as after a punchingoperation or the like in which the cards are momentarily halted,

it is necessary either to delay feeding the card out of the punchingstation or other stopping point until a proper starting instant hasarrived, or subsequently to stop the card in order to restart it insynchronism with the analyzer emitter. It is apparent that thisrequirement reduces machine speed and efiiciency,. Moreover, when theemitter is synchronized with both the feeding means and the basic timingcycle of the machine, it is apparent that any slippage of the cards inthe feeding means will be likely to cause analyzing errors.

-It is an object of this invention to provide an improved commutator formanifesting the position of a record card with respect to a givenreading means, which commutator does not require synchronization withthe basic timing cycle of the machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a commutator adaptedfor use in analyzing moving record cards which have been started intheir travels at random times, or

whose movements of necessity have fallen out of step with v the basictiming cycle of the machine.

It is another object of this invention to provide a card analyzingcommutator which will not be affected by 2,773,645 Patented Dec. 11,1956 'ice which have been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a feed roller, reading brushes andcommutator brushes which may be utilized in carrying out the purposes ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic and circuit diagram of the commutator brushes andthe circuits associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is a schematic and block diagram of a device embodying one formof the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic and block diagram of a device embodying a secondform of the invention.

In Fig. 1 a punched record card 10 of a well known type is shown beingfed over a contact roller 12. In the embodiment shown the punched cardis fed in the direction of its index point columns and with the 12 indexrow foremost. Mounted above the contact roller 12 and parallel to itsaxis is a reading brush block 14. Parallel column reading brushes 16extend downwardly from the reading brush block 14 and in the directionof card travel. In the absence of a record card the trailing ends of thereading brushes 16 bear against the grounded contact roller 12.

The reading brushes 16 are positioned to cooperate with the respectivecolumns of index points on the record cards. As a card is fed betweenthe contact roller 12 and the reading brushes 16, each of theperforations P in the card permits the momentary contact of a readingbrush 16 against the contact roller 12, which is assumed connected toground potential.

Extending in the direction of card travel from a location adjacent thetop of the contact roller 12 is a card guide plate 18 having a flatsurface of electrically conductive material adapted to support and guidethe record cards as they travel beyond the contact roller 12. Acommutator brush block 20 of insulating material, also extending in thedirection of card travel, is mounted parallel to and above one side ofthe card guide plate 18 and perpendicular to the reading brush block 14.

A series of ten commutator brushes C0-C9 aligned in the direction ofcard travel is mounted in the commutator brush block, with the ends ofthese brushes likewise extending individually in the general directionof card travel and contacting the card guide plate 18 in the ab- :senceof a record card. Each of the commutator brushes '16 on the contactroller 12 by a distance equal to the spacing between the forward 12 edgeof the record cards and the corresponding row of index points on therecord cards.

Although the conventional record card has twelve rows of index points,only ten of these, the 0 to 9 rows, are utilized in the embodimentsshown and described. It is to be understood that this is done for thepurpose of simplifying the illustration and description and thatmodification of the embodiments to utilize all twelve rows or any otherdesired number of rows is within the concept of this invention. It isalso to be understood that the 3 card may be fed with any desired edge'for'eino'st without altering the concept of the invention.

As a record card is fed over contact roller 12 and under the readingbrushes 16, the forward edge of the card will pass successively underthe commutator brushes CoC9 causing them to be sequentially lifted andinsulated from the grounded card guide plate 18. The location of thecommutator brush block 20 "at one side of the card guide plate 18permits the passage of the unperforated margin of the record card underthe commutator brushes. The spacing of the commutator brushes C-C9 fromthe reading brushes 16, as previously explained, is such that as eachcommutator brush becomes disconnected from ground potential by thepassage of a record card, the corresponding row of index points on therecord cardat that instant is about to pass between the reading brushes16 and the contact roller 12.

Fig. 2 shows the individual relay circuits associated with thecommutator brushes C0-C9. connection and operation of the circuit ofcommutator brush 'Cn will be considered first. -In the absence of arecord card this brush contacts the card guide plate 18, which is atground potential. The terminal of the commutator brush C0 is connectedthrough a resistor 30 to a source of positive potential. A condenser 32and therelay coil of a relay R0 are serially csnnectedscrds's theresistor 30. A diode 34 is connected across the coil of the relay R0with its anode connected to the positive potential side of the coil. Thearmature of relay R0 is normally open and is connected to an output lineLp. The contact of relay R0 is connected through a line 40 to groundpotential. In the absence of arecord card a circuit is established fromground potential through the card guide plate 18, the commutator brushC0 and the resistor 30 to a source of positive potential. The potentialdrop across the resistor 30 maintains an equal potential drop across thecondenser 32.

commutator brush Co is the first commutator brush encountered by arecord card as it is fed past the reading brushes B1435. As the contactof the commutator brush Co with the card guide plate 18 is broken, thepotential across condenser 32 caused by the current fiow through theresistor 30 is removed. Condenser 32 thereupon discharges through theresistor 30 and the coil of relay R0, causing a voltage pulse throughthe coil approximating a sawtooth shape with an amplitude and slopepredetermined by the values of the applied voltage and the circuitcomponents. The relay Ru acts as an amplitude discriminator, causing therelay armature to close against its contact for a predetermined periodof time. As the forward edge of the record card passes under thecommutator brush cs, therefore, the armature of relay R0 closes and theoutput-lineLo is connected to ground potential for apredetermined periodof time. The spacing between the commutator brush C0 and the columnreading brushes B 1B5, and the velocity of card travel are arranged sothat the period for which the armature of relay R0 is closed correspondsin time with the passage under the reading brushes Bi-Bs of the zeroindex point row on the record card.

The remaining commutator brushes C1-C9 have id'entical associatedcircuits and relays Ri-R, each of which operates in thesame manner asdoes the commutator brush Covandits associatedcircuit-and relay R0. Eachrelay Riv-R9 has its armature connected to a separate output line LoLs-and has its contact connected through a common line 40 to groundpotential. As a record card passes under the commutator brushes C0C9-thearmatures of relays R0R9 are successively closed,-each for apredetermined period of time. The closing-of each of the armatures ofrelays R0-R9 manifests the passage un-' der the column readingbrushes-Bi-Bs of'a respective-row of index=points 0f the record card.

The commutator brushes C0-C9 regain contact with 4 the card guide plate'18 after the card has passed beyond the brushes. The potential dropacross resistor 30 is reestablished as the current flow is restored fromthe positive potential source through resistor 30, the commutator brushCo and the card guide plate 18 to ground potential. The potential dropacross resistor 30 causes the condenser 32 to be recharged through thediode 34. Diode 34 parallels the coil of relay Roand prevents the relayfrom being actuated as the condenser 32 is recharged. In the same mannerthe condensers associated with the circuits of the remaining commutatorbrushes C1-C9 are, recharged without actuating the associated relaysRILRQ as the card passes out of the analyzing station. As a followingcard enters the analyzing station, the cycle is repeated, the successiveclosing of the armatures of relays Ro-R9 causing each of the outputlines Lo-La to be sequentially grounded for a predetermined period,thereby manifesting the passage of respectiverows of card indeii pointspast the reading brushes Bi-BsE The output lines I;1L9' may be connectedin common to transmit a pulsesequence to utilization devices in timedrelationship" with the passage of card index points past the columnreading brushes. Alternatively the output lirisLo-Ls may be connecteddistributively to separate utilization devices which" areoperated'selectiv'ely as respective rows of card index points are fedpast the column reading brushes. Examples of the two methods areshowfiinFigs. 3 and 4, respectively.

Fig. 3 shows an analyzer with a card controlled coinm'utator in whichnumerical data punchedinrecord cards are converted into pulse sequencesand transmitted to pulse counters; The commutator brushes C6-C9 contactthe grounded card guide plate 18 in the absence of a record card. Thecommutator brush terminals are connected to their respective relays RoRs in the manner described with reference to the circuits of Fig. 2-.The output lines of the relays Ro"'-R9 are connected incommon to each offour gating devices 41, 42, 43 and 44. As arecordf-car'd passes throughthe analyzing station a' pul seojf predetermined duration appears ateach of the relay outputs, each pulse' corresponding to the passage ofa" respective row of card'inde'x points past the row of reading brushesB1 B2; B2 and B4. A sequence of pulses in timed relationship to thepa'ssage of the cardthus appears in the connection common to the outputsof relays- R'e RQ and is applied to" each of the four gatingdevices"41,'42; 43 and 44. I

The" four column reading brushes B1, B2; B3 and B4, which brush againstthe" grounded c'o'nta'ct roller 12, are provide'd f or sensingperforations in respective columnso'r record cards. The terminal of eachreading brush is connected to a respective one of the gating devices 41,42, 43 and. 44; Fair counters 51, 52,753 and 541m provided for storingthe data analyzed from the four ca i m; sensedlrespectivelyby thereading brushes B B2, B3 and B4. Each of the counters 51, 52, 53 and54'is connected tothe output of a respective one of the gating devices41, 42 and; 4 5. I

The gating devices '41, 42; 43 and 44 are adapted to pass to theirassociated counters, in the absence of pulses from the reading brushes;the pulse sequence'appearing at the common output of relays Ro-Ra. Whenareadingbrusheneonntersaperforation in a" card a-pulse of groundpotential is applied to the associated gating device;-causin'g thegetting device" to" block' admittance to its' associ'ated counter ofthereniaining'pulses from" the relays Ro-Rs. With this arrangementanchor the counters receives a" number of pulses corresponding to thenumbers punche'd'in the'respectivecard columns. The numbers can bestored and manifested in the counters andutilizedin ways well known" tothe" t. Reciprocal numbers can be entered -intothe counte "traversin theoperatioii of the gatingdevices so that they 'qa 'an are closed and donot open to pass pulses from the" re- .1ays-RoRs until perforations aresensed in the respective card columns. 7

It is assumed in these examples that each card is fed with its 12 edgeforemost. The time relationship of the pulses caused by the sensing ofperforations in the card columns with respect to the pulses from theoutputs of relays Ro-R9 must be determined in each case so as to givethe proper numerical input to the counters. Means (not shown) may beprovided to reset the counters before the passage of a following card orto provide for the accumulation of additional numerical entries into thecounters.

Fig. 4 shows an analyzer utilizing a card controlled commutator operateddistributively to store punched card data. A storage element is providedfor each index point position in the three columns of card index pointsto beanalyzed. Ten of the storage elements Sin-S19 correspond to the to9 index point positions in the first one of the columns. The storageelements $20-$29 and 830-839 similarly correspond to the index pointpositions in the second and third of the columns to be analyzed. Thesestorage elements $-$39 store and I manifest in well known ways thepresence or absence G29 are connected in common to the column readingbrush B2 and the coincidence gates Gan-Gas are connected in common tothe column reading brush B3.

The ten commutator brushes C0-C9 are connected to and actuate theirrespective relays Ro-Rs in the manner described with reference to Fig.2. The output of relay R0 is connected to the coincidence gates G10, Gand Gao. Similarly each of the outputs of the remaining relays R1R9 isconnected in common to the respective row of coincidence gatescorresponding to the row of card index points with which the relay isassociated.

Each of the storage elements SID-S39 is adapted to manifest the presenceof a perforation in a corresponding card index position whenever itsassociated coincidence gate receives simultaneous ground potentialpulses from its connected column reading brush and from its connectedcommutator relay. As a record card is fed past the column readingbrushes Br-Ba the front edge of the card successively passes under andinsulates each of the commutator brushes C0-C9. As the contact of eachcommutator brush with ground potential is broken the respective relayarmature closes against its grounded contact for a predetermined period.The spacing of each of the commutator brushes C0-C9 from the readingbrushes Bl-B3 is such that the closing of the associated relaycorresponds in time to the passage of a respective row of card indexpoints pasts the reading brushes. Thus, each row of coincidence gates inturn receives a ground potential pulse from its connected commutatorrelay at the same time a corresponding row of card index points passesthe reading brushes Bi-Bs.

A perforation in a particular column of index points in a record cardcauses a ground potential pulse to pass through the respective columnreading brush to the connected row of coincidence gates whichcorresponds to the particular column of index points. The coincidencegate which receives a ground potential pulse from its connected columnreading brush coincident in time with the receipt of a ground potentialpulse from its connected commutator relay will cause its associatedstorage element to manifest the presence of a perforation in thecorresponding card index point position. The manifestations may beutilized or the storage elements reset by means (not shown) well knownto the art before a followingcard enters the reading station.

It is to be understood that the words row" and column" referring to cardindex point positions are relative terms and can. be retained orinterchanged to refer to index point positions on cards which are fedendwise instead of sidewise through a record card controlled ma chine. v

The methods of applying the invention described and shown in Figs. 3 and4 are merely illustrative of two embodiments of the card controlledcommutator, and many other applications of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments shown can easilybeadapted to operate with all twelve rows or any other number of rows ofa conventional business machine card. The embodiments also can beadapted to other kinds of record cards which can be fed through themachine in any desired manner. It is an obvious modification of thedisclosed embodiments and is within the scope of the invention to placethe commutator brushes before instead of after the reading brushes sothat pulses manifesting the card position are generated as thecommutator brushes slip off the rear edge of the record card as it isfed under the reading brushes. Similarly thecommutator brushes could beso spaced from the reading brushes that the pulses manifesting the cardposition would be generated as each of the commutator brushes in turnencountered a perforation punched into the record cards.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferredembodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a business machine adapted to utilize record cards and which hascard reading means and card feeding means associated therewith, acommutator for successively manifesting a plurality of predeterminedsignificant positions occupied by each of a series of record cards withrespect to the card reading means comprising, in combination, aplurality of sensing devices disposed in a given sequential arrangementalong the direction of card travel for successively sensing the presenceof each record card as it is fed past the card reading means, and aplurality of manifesting devices each connected to a respective one ofsaid sensing devices for manifesting the transition of the respectivesensing device from one state to another caused by passage of apredetermined edge of each record card, each of said sensing devicesbeing so spaced from the card reading means that each manifesting devicemanifests a particular significant position occupied by a record cardwith respect to the card reading means.

2. In a business machine adapted to utilize record? cards and which hascard reading means and card feed-- ing means associated therewith, acommutator for succes sively manifesting a plurality of predeterminedsignificant positions occupied by each of a series of record cards. withrespect to the card reading means comprising, in; combination, aplurality of sensing devices disposed in a given sequential arrangementalong the direction of card! travel for successively sensing thepresence of each record card as it is fed past the card reading means,and a plurality of pulse generating devices each connected to atrespective sensing device for generating a pulse in response to thetransition of the respective sensing device from one state to anothercaused by the passage of a predetermined edge of each card, each of saidsensing devices being so spaced from the card reading means that eachpulse from a particular pulse generating device manifests a particularsignificant position occupied by a.

L record card with respect to the reading means.

7 11 a busines ma in a apt to, t sspr card's' and which has ca'r'dreading means and eardf teejdlfi si nsap Ja wia fithwwfii a b 'mut rifsum siveIyn anifesting arm-art of predetermined significant positionsoccupied by each of a series of record cards with respect to the cardreading means compri ing, in combination, aplurality of sensing devicesdisposed' in a given sequential arrangement along the direction of cardtravel at interv als lequalfto the spaeingbetWeen adjacent rows of cardindex pointsjf or, successively sensing the presence of,ea ch recordcard,as'itisffed past the card [Wading m an an s ur ty of. m nifestin dv s each connected to a respective one of r saidsensing dev.vices"fo'rmanifesting ,'the transition of the respectiveensing'devi'ce, fromfone state. to another caused by the passage .of a ll'fideterrnineduedge of each record card, eachof said sensing devicesbeing sotspaced from the card reading means that said plurality ofmanifesting :devices manifest in succession .a given positional rela-'tionship of successive rows of card indeX points on, each recordeardwithrespeet, to the card reading means.

,.4. i In 7 a business machine adapted to utilize record eards arrdwhichhas card readingmeans and card feed- .ing means associated therewith, a.commutator for succesely rna nifesting a plurality .ofpredeterminedtsignificant positions occupied by each of a series-Hofrecordcards with respect to the cardreading means comprising, in,combination, a plurality of commutator brushes disposed in agivensequential arrangement along the direction of eardltrzivel, for.successively sensing the presence of reach trcordcai'd as-it, is fedpast thecardsreading rneans and a' plurality. of pulse generatingdevices each connected to -and con'trolled .by a respective one .ofisaidcommutator brushes forgenerating a pulse. in responseto thetransitionfrom o'ne state toanother state caused int-said commutatorbrush bythelsensinghof the passage of ,a predeterminededgeofleachrccordtcard, said commutator brushes being .sospaced from the card-reading;means ,fthat. each pulse from a particular pulse generatingdevice manifests a particular significant reading position occupied by arecord .card with respect to the card reading means.

v 5. In a business machine adapted ,to '-utilize record cards and whichhas card reading means and card feeding means associated therewith, acommutator forrsuccessivelymanifesting a plurality ofpredeterminedsignificant positions occupied by each bin seriesofrecord-cards withlrespect to the card reading means comprising, incombinatiomaplurality of commutator brushes disposedin a givensequentialarrangement along'the direction of card travel at intervals equal to thespacing between adjacent ,rows of card index points forrsuccessivelysensing the presence .of each record card as it is fed past the cardreading rneans, and a plurality of pulse generating de- "vices eachconnected to andcontrolled by a respective one of said commutatorbrushes for generating 'ar-pulse of predetermined duration in responseto the transition fromone stateto anotherstate causedin said commutatorbrush by the sensing of the. passage ,of a predetermined sedge .of,.each recordcard, said commutator brushes being -so spaced -from thecard reading means ,that said pulse generating devices generate asequence of-pulses-in which each pulse has a predetermined durationcorresp nding in time to .the passage of a particularrowof cardwindexpoints past a given position-with respect -to the card reading means. iw

" r6. Ina business machine adapted to ,utilize record cards and whichhas card reading means and card feeding means associated therewith, acommutator for successively manifesting a plurality of predeterminedsignificant positions occupied by each of a series of record cards withrespect to the card reading means comprising, in cornbin atiomaplurality of commutator brushes disposed in a given sequentialarrangement alongithe direction pf card travel, contact means eaeh ofcommutator 'bruslies bears for completing an electrical circuit,"

each of-said electrical 'circuitsbeing adaptedto" be inter rupted by thepassage of each record'cardas' it; is"'fed between;said'comrnutatorbrushes and said contact means so 'thattwoTransitions occur in thecondition of ea'ch'of said electrical :circuitswith the passage of eachrecord card, and =a"plura1lity of pulsegenerating deviceseach connectedto-and controlled by 'a respective commutator "brush" forgeneratingapulse in response to' a given one --ofsaid two'transitions occurringwiththe passage of each -record card, said commutator brushes being sospaced bination, aplurality of commutator brushes 'disposed'in agiven-sequential-arrangement along-the direction of card travelatinterva-lsequal to the-spacing between adjacent -rows-of-car'd indexpoints, contact means against which each of said commutator brushesnormally bearsto com- 1 plate-an electricaLcOnnection, said commutatorbrushes -and-said-contact-means being adapted to have saidrecord-cardspass betweenthem -so that said electrical connections are -openedby the-passage of the forward edge and -closed by the-passage-of therearward edge-of eachrccord card, a-source of electrical-potentialhaving one of its sides connectedto -saidv contact means, a plurality ofpulse forming devices each connected between a respectivecommutatoflbrush and 'theother -'side-of said-source ofelectricalpotential for'forminga current pulse having a given polar itywhen said electrical connection is opened and having theoppositepolarit-y when said electrical connect-ion -is closed, and adiscriminating device connected 'toeach of said pulse forming devicesfor generatinga manifesting pulse of predetermined duration in responseto each current pulse of apredetermined polarity, -said=commutatorbrushes being so spaced from the card reading means that eachmanifesting pulse of'predetermined duration corresponds 'in'time to thepassage of a particular-row of card index points past apredetermined-position-with respect to-the card readingmeans.

-8.'In a business machine adapted to utilize record cards and which hascard reading means and card feeding means associated therewith, acommutator -for successively manifesting a plurality of predeterminedsignificant-positions occupied by each of a series of--record cards withrespect to the card'reading-means comprising, in-combination, contactmeans adjacent the card reading means and extending in the direction ofcard travel, a pluralityof commutator brushes disposed ina givensequential arrangement along the direction of card travel atintervals-equal to the-spacing between adjacent rows of :cardindeX'pointseac-h of-said commutator brushes'normally bearing againstsaid contact means to make an electrical connection, a source ofelectrical potential having one of its sides connected to said contactmeans, a plurality of resistors, each resistor being connected between-arespective commutator'brush and the other side of said source ofelectrical potential to complete a plurality of parallel electricalcircuit through said commutator brushes, said commutator brushes andsaid contact means being adapted to be insulated from each other by 'thepassageof each record card which is fed between them therebyopening'said electrical circuits, a condenser and a relay coil seriallyconnected across each of said resistors, a unidirectionalcurrentconductor connected across each of said relay coils to conduct currentin a given direction, s sh Q s i ela w. l h vin an as o ia e relay arm hh i d pt t be a tuat by cur nt 110 through the associated relay coil,whereby 'the'passage of each edge of a record card past each commutatorbrush causes the associated condenser to change potential and a givenone of said potential changes caused by the passage each card causes theassociated relay armature to be actuated for a predetermined period oftime, said commutator brushes being so spaced from the card readingmeans that the actuation of each relay armature corresponds in time to apredetermined significant position occupied by a record card withrespect to the card reading means.

9. In a business machine adapted to utilize record cards and which hascard reading means and card feeding means associated therewith, acommutator for successively manifesting a plurality of predeterminedsignificant positions occupied by each of a series of record cards withrespect to the card reading means comprising, in combination, aplurality of commutator brushes disposed in a given sequentialarrangement along the direction of card travel for successively sensingthe presence of each record card as it is fed past the card readingmeans, each commutator brush corresponding to a respective row of cardindex points and being spaced from the card reading means by a distanceequal to the spacing between the corresponding row of card index pointsand a given edge of each record card, and a plurality of pulsegenerating devices each connected to and controlled by a respectivecommutator brush for generating a pulse of predetermined duration inresponse to the transition from one state to another state caused in thecommutator brush by the sensing of the passage of said given edge ofeach record card, whereby each pulse from a particular pulse generatingmeans manifests the passage of a particular row of card index pointspast the card reading means.

10. In a business machine adapted to utilize record cards, thecombination of card reading brushes positioned to cooperate with columnsof index points on record cards for sensing perforations in the recordcards, card feeding means associated with said card reading brushes, aplurality of commutator brushes disposed in a sequential arrangement inthe direction of card travel beyond said card reading brushes, thedistance of each commutator brush from said card reading means beingequal to the distance of respective rows of card index points from theforward edge of each individual record card, an electrical potentialsource against which said commutator brushes bear in the absence of arecord card, said commutator brushes and said electrical potentialsource being adapted to have record cards fed between them so that saidcommutator brushes are insulated from said electrical potential sourcecausing the potential on each of said commutator brushes to be changed,and a plurality of pulse generators each connected to and controlled bya respective commutator brush for generating a pulse in response to thechange of potential caused on the respective commutator brush by thepassage of the forward edge of each record card, whereby the particularpulse generator which generates a pulse simultaneously with the sensingof a perforation in a particular column by a card reading brushmanifests the particular row of eard index points in which saidperforation is located.

11. In a business machine adapted to utilize record cards, thecombination of card reading brushes positioned to cooperate with columnsof index points on record Cards for sensing perforations in the recordcards, card feeding means associated with said card reading brushes, aplurality of commutator brushes disposed in a sequential arrangementalong the direction of card travel at intervals equal to the spacingbetween adjacent rows of card index points, an electrical potentialsource against which said commutator brushes bear in the absence of arecord card, said commutator brushes and said electrical potentialsource being adapted to have record cards fed between them so that saidcommutator brushes are insulated from said electrical potential sourceand the potential on each of said commutator brushes is changed, aplurality of .pulse generators each connected to and controlled-by arespective commutator brush for generating a pulse of predeterminedduration in response to the change of potential caused on the respectivecommutator brush by the passage of a given edge of each record card, andan output means connected to all of said pulse generators for deriving asequence of pulses from said pulse generators as each record card is fedbetween said commutator brushes and said electrical potential source,said commutator brushes being so spaced from said card reading meansthat each of said pulses corresponds in time to the passage of aparticular row of card index points past a given position with respectto said card reading means.

12. In a business machine adapted to utilize record cards, thecombination of card reading brushes positioned to cooperate with columnsof index points on record cards for sensing perforations in the recordcards, card feeding means associated with said card reading brushes, aplurality of commutator brushes disposed in a given sequentialarrangement along the direction of card travel at intervals equal to thespacing between adjacent rows of card index points for successivelysensing the presence of each record card as it is fed past said cardreading brushes, a plurality of pulse generating devices each connectedto and controlled by a respective one of said commutator brushes forgenerating a pulse of predetermined duration in response to thetransition from one state to another state caused in said commutatorbrush by the sensing of the passage of a given edge of each record card,said commutator brushes being so spaced from said card reading brushesthat each of said pulses corresponds in time to the passage of aparticular row of card index points past a given position with respectto said card reading brushes, a plurality of gating devices having anopened and a closed position, each connected to a respective one of saidcard reading brushes and each having another connection in common toeach of said pulse generating devices, and a counting device associatedwith each of said gating devices for counting pulses from said pulsegenerators when said gating devices are in an opened position, each ofsaid gating devices being adapted to have a given position before thesensing of a perforation and to have its position changed in response tothe sensing of a perforation by its connected card reading brush,whereby the number of pulses counted by each of said counting devicesduring the passage of each record card is indicative of the value of adata signifying perforation located at a selected index point positionin the respective card column of said record card.

13. In a business machine adapted to utilize record cards, thecombination of card reading brushes positioned to cooperate with columnsof index points on record cards for sensing perforations in the recordcards, card feeding means associated with said card reading brushes, aplurality of commutator brushes for successively sensing the presence ofeach record card as it is fed past said, card reading brushes, saidcommutator brushes being disposed in a sequential arrangement at spacedintervals in the direction of card travel, the distance from eachcornmutator brush to said card reading means being equal to the distanceof respective rows of card index points from a given edge of eachindividual record card, a plurality of pulse generators each connectedto and controlled by a respective one of said commutator brushes forgenerating a pulse of predetermined duration in re sponse to thetransition from one state to another state caused in said commutatorbrush by the sensing of the passage of said given edge of each recordcard, whereby each pulse generator generates a pulse which correspondsin time to the passage of a particular row of card index points pastsaid card reading brushes, a plurality of coincidence gates eachcorresponding to a respective card index point position, each of saidcard reading brushes 'gai te's corresponding lto a respective columnofeard index --*po'int positions, eabhbf stid pulse 'gen'eratorsbeing-conneared to thebther input of'ea'ch bf thecoincidenc'e gatescorresponding to a respective row of card index -point po- ---'sitions,"each coincidence gate being adapted to manifest :12 a ithepresence;.ofiaiperforationiLin1the 'tcorresponding card -in'dexupcintposition i-in.::responsei.to the sensing cf' a perf0'ration :by its-:connected-card reading brush anda simultaneous pulse :from itsconnected pulse" generator.

"-No' references :icited.

